William Horbury
- Published in print:
- 2004
- Published Online:
- January 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780197263051
- eISBN:
- 9780191734090
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- British Academy
- DOI:
- 10.5871/bacad/9780197263051.003.0003
- Subject:
- Religion, Religious Studies
This chapter provides a review of New Testament work since 1902, looking mostly at the movements in British scholarship, but considering their continental European and North American background. It ...
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This chapter provides a review of New Testament work since 1902, looking mostly at the movements in British scholarship, but considering their continental European and North American background. It examines the manifold setting of New Testament study during the century, which is followed by comments that arose successively from three periods: 1902–32, 1932–77, and 1977–2002. The interaction of the two principal sides of New Testament study – the theological and the philological – are also discussed.Less
This chapter provides a review of New Testament work since 1902, looking mostly at the movements in British scholarship, but considering their continental European and North American background. It examines the manifold setting of New Testament study during the century, which is followed by comments that arose successively from three periods: 1902–32, 1932–77, and 1977–2002. The interaction of the two principal sides of New Testament study – the theological and the philological – are also discussed.
Niels Christian Hvidt
- Published in print:
- 2007
- Published Online:
- May 2007
- ISBN:
- 9780195314472
- eISBN:
- 9780199785346
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195314472.003.0003
- Subject:
- Religion, Theology
Prophecy plays an important role in the Old Testament. This importance does not end but continues throughout early Judaism, albeit under different forms and genres such as apocalyptic literature, ...
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Prophecy plays an important role in the Old Testament. This importance does not end but continues throughout early Judaism, albeit under different forms and genres such as apocalyptic literature, eschatological prophecy, clerical prophecy, and sapiental prophecy. It equally continues in the history and writings of the early church. The New Testament portrays Christ as the supreme prophet in not merely forwarding words of God to God's people, but being the word of God. Prophecy continued to mutate in the history of Christianity but kept its vigor. It re-emerged in the monastic movements, medieval visionary mysticism, passion mysticism, the great Marian apparitions, augmenting in the 19th century, and in possible contemporary prophetic personalities such as the Greek-Orthodox Vassula Rydén.Less
Prophecy plays an important role in the Old Testament. This importance does not end but continues throughout early Judaism, albeit under different forms and genres such as apocalyptic literature, eschatological prophecy, clerical prophecy, and sapiental prophecy. It equally continues in the history and writings of the early church. The New Testament portrays Christ as the supreme prophet in not merely forwarding words of God to God's people, but being the word of God. Prophecy continued to mutate in the history of Christianity but kept its vigor. It re-emerged in the monastic movements, medieval visionary mysticism, passion mysticism, the great Marian apparitions, augmenting in the 19th century, and in possible contemporary prophetic personalities such as the Greek-Orthodox Vassula Rydén.
Ted A. Campbell
- Published in print:
- 2009
- Published Online:
- January 2009
- ISBN:
- 9780195370638
- eISBN:
- 9780199870738
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195370638.001.0001
- Subject:
- Religion, Theology
This book shows how a simple message embedded in the New Testament and also handed on in a Christian oral tradition has been expressed consistently through ancient Christian communities (Catholic and ...
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This book shows how a simple message embedded in the New Testament and also handed on in a Christian oral tradition has been expressed consistently through ancient Christian communities (Catholic and Orthodox churches), churches of the Protestant family, and Evangelical Christian communities. The book begins by examining the New Testament and the primitive expressions of the early Christian message that are embedded in New Testament documents. Using formal doctrinal statements of churches and more informal ways in which church teachings have been “received” in churches, the book highlights the single unifying core of faith that almost all Christian churches and communities have shared. The book examines not only Christian scriptures, traditional creeds, and doctrinal statements, but also forms of worship (liturgy), hymns, Gospel music, and contemporary Christian music to understand how they have conveyed this same message. It shows, moreover, how this message has been expressed in the ecumenical movement, the movement that has sought the unity of Christian churches since the early twentieth century.Less
This book shows how a simple message embedded in the New Testament and also handed on in a Christian oral tradition has been expressed consistently through ancient Christian communities (Catholic and Orthodox churches), churches of the Protestant family, and Evangelical Christian communities. The book begins by examining the New Testament and the primitive expressions of the early Christian message that are embedded in New Testament documents. Using formal doctrinal statements of churches and more informal ways in which church teachings have been “received” in churches, the book highlights the single unifying core of faith that almost all Christian churches and communities have shared. The book examines not only Christian scriptures, traditional creeds, and doctrinal statements, but also forms of worship (liturgy), hymns, Gospel music, and contemporary Christian music to understand how they have conveyed this same message. It shows, moreover, how this message has been expressed in the ecumenical movement, the movement that has sought the unity of Christian churches since the early twentieth century.
Jonathan Klawans
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- January 2007
- ISBN:
- 9780195162639
- eISBN:
- 9780199785254
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195162639.001.0001
- Subject:
- Religion, Judaism
This book reevaluates modern scholarly approaches to ancient Jewish cultic rituals, arguing that sacrifice in particular has been long misunderstood. Various religious and cultural ideologies ...
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This book reevaluates modern scholarly approaches to ancient Jewish cultic rituals, arguing that sacrifice in particular has been long misunderstood. Various religious and cultural ideologies (especially supersessionist ones) have frequently prevented scholars from seeing the Jerusalem temple as a powerful source of meaning and symbolism to those ancient Jews who worshiped there. Such approaches are exposed and countered by reviewing the theoretical literature on sacrifice and taking a fresh look at a broad range of evidence concerning ancient Jewish attitudes toward the temple and its sacrificial cult. Starting with the Hebrew Bible, this work argues for a symbolic understanding of a broad range of cultic practices, including both purity rituals and sacrificial acts. The prophetic literature is also reexamined, with an eye toward clarifying the relationship between the prophets and the sacrificial cult. Later ancient Jewish symbolic understandings of the cult are also revealed in sources including Josephus, Philo, Pseudepigrapha, the Dead Sea Scrolls, New Testament, and Rabbinic literature. A number of ancient Jews certainly did believe that the temple was temporarily tainted or defiled in some fashion, including the Dead Sea sectarians and Jesus. But they continued to speak of the temple in metaphorical terms, and — like practically all ancient Jews — believed in the cult, accepted its symbolic significance, and hoped for its ultimate efficacy.Less
This book reevaluates modern scholarly approaches to ancient Jewish cultic rituals, arguing that sacrifice in particular has been long misunderstood. Various religious and cultural ideologies (especially supersessionist ones) have frequently prevented scholars from seeing the Jerusalem temple as a powerful source of meaning and symbolism to those ancient Jews who worshiped there. Such approaches are exposed and countered by reviewing the theoretical literature on sacrifice and taking a fresh look at a broad range of evidence concerning ancient Jewish attitudes toward the temple and its sacrificial cult. Starting with the Hebrew Bible, this work argues for a symbolic understanding of a broad range of cultic practices, including both purity rituals and sacrificial acts. The prophetic literature is also reexamined, with an eye toward clarifying the relationship between the prophets and the sacrificial cult. Later ancient Jewish symbolic understandings of the cult are also revealed in sources including Josephus, Philo, Pseudepigrapha, the Dead Sea Scrolls, New Testament, and Rabbinic literature. A number of ancient Jews certainly did believe that the temple was temporarily tainted or defiled in some fashion, including the Dead Sea sectarians and Jesus. But they continued to speak of the temple in metaphorical terms, and — like practically all ancient Jews — believed in the cult, accepted its symbolic significance, and hoped for its ultimate efficacy.
Candida Moss
- Published in print:
- 2010
- Published Online:
- May 2010
- ISBN:
- 9780199739875
- eISBN:
- 9780199777259
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199739875.001.0001
- Subject:
- Religion, Theology, Early Christian Studies
This book uses the martyrs’ imitation of Jesus in the acts of the martyrs as a window into the history of ideas. It argues, first, that the presentations of the deaths of the martyrs are modeled on ...
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This book uses the martyrs’ imitation of Jesus in the acts of the martyrs as a window into the history of ideas. It argues, first, that the presentations of the deaths of the martyrs are modeled on portrayals of the death of Jesus in early Christian literature and practice. Given that the martyrs are presented as Christ figures, they serve as narrative reinterpretations of the death of Jesus and can serve as valuable, early sources for the reception history of the New Testament. It also argues that the assimilation of the martyrs to Christ goes further than the narrative contours and stylistic features of their deaths. In the depiction of the salvific value of the martyr’s death, the postmortem functions of martyrs in heaven, and the martyrs’ status vis-à-vis Christ in the afterlife, the martyrs continue to be presented as Christly figures. As a result, the martyr acts can also contribute to our understanding of the development of ideas about Jesus (Christology) and the way in which human beings are saved (soteriology) in the early church in the pre-Constantinian period.Less
This book uses the martyrs’ imitation of Jesus in the acts of the martyrs as a window into the history of ideas. It argues, first, that the presentations of the deaths of the martyrs are modeled on portrayals of the death of Jesus in early Christian literature and practice. Given that the martyrs are presented as Christ figures, they serve as narrative reinterpretations of the death of Jesus and can serve as valuable, early sources for the reception history of the New Testament. It also argues that the assimilation of the martyrs to Christ goes further than the narrative contours and stylistic features of their deaths. In the depiction of the salvific value of the martyr’s death, the postmortem functions of martyrs in heaven, and the martyrs’ status vis-à-vis Christ in the afterlife, the martyrs continue to be presented as Christly figures. As a result, the martyr acts can also contribute to our understanding of the development of ideas about Jesus (Christology) and the way in which human beings are saved (soteriology) in the early church in the pre-Constantinian period.
Adele Reinhartz
- Published in print:
- 2007
- Published Online:
- May 2007
- ISBN:
- 9780195146967
- eISBN:
- 9780199785469
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195146967.001.0001
- Subject:
- Religion, History of Christianity
This book is a study of the movies made about Jesus, from the earliest silent films through to Mel Gibson's 2004 The Passion of the Christ. Its main argument is that these movies fit into the ...
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This book is a study of the movies made about Jesus, from the earliest silent films through to Mel Gibson's 2004 The Passion of the Christ. Its main argument is that these movies fit into the “biopic” (biographical film) genre and they tell the story of Jesus according to the standard biopic template. The Jesus biopics exhibit three principal characteristics. First, they make a claim to historicity or historical authenticity. Second, and at the same time, they undermine that claim in ways that are both subtle and overt. Third, they use the Jesus story as a lens through which to view and to work out contemporary concerns, such as sexuality, ethnic identity, theology, and the relationship between religion and politics. The approach is thematic, and the chapters are organized by character, including the Holy Family (Mary, Joseph, and God), Jesus' friends and associates (Mary Magdalene and Judas) and his enemies (Pharisees, Caiaphas, and Pilate). Despite the title, the book addresses films made both in the United States and elsewhere. The point is not to overlook the profound differences among the various national cinemas which have produced Jesus movies, but to argue that all bear the imprint of the Hollywood biopic, whether in imitation of its conventions or in conscious resistance to them.Less
This book is a study of the movies made about Jesus, from the earliest silent films through to Mel Gibson's 2004 The Passion of the Christ. Its main argument is that these movies fit into the “biopic” (biographical film) genre and they tell the story of Jesus according to the standard biopic template. The Jesus biopics exhibit three principal characteristics. First, they make a claim to historicity or historical authenticity. Second, and at the same time, they undermine that claim in ways that are both subtle and overt. Third, they use the Jesus story as a lens through which to view and to work out contemporary concerns, such as sexuality, ethnic identity, theology, and the relationship between religion and politics. The approach is thematic, and the chapters are organized by character, including the Holy Family (Mary, Joseph, and God), Jesus' friends and associates (Mary Magdalene and Judas) and his enemies (Pharisees, Caiaphas, and Pilate). Despite the title, the book addresses films made both in the United States and elsewhere. The point is not to overlook the profound differences among the various national cinemas which have produced Jesus movies, but to argue that all bear the imprint of the Hollywood biopic, whether in imitation of its conventions or in conscious resistance to them.
Thomas B Dozeman
- Published in print:
- 2008
- Published Online:
- September 2008
- ISBN:
- 9780195367331
- eISBN:
- 9780199867417
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195367331.001.0001
- Subject:
- Religion, Church History
This book is an initial response to the call of the World Council of Churches for renewed theological reflection on the biblical roots of ordination to strengthen the vocational identity of the ...
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This book is an initial response to the call of the World Council of Churches for renewed theological reflection on the biblical roots of ordination to strengthen the vocational identity of the ordained and to provide a framework for ecumenical dialogue. It is grounded in the assumption that the vocation of ordination requires an understanding of holiness and how it functions in human religious experience. The goal is to construct a biblical theology of ordination, embedded in broad reflection on the nature of holiness. The study of holiness and ministry interweaves three methodologies. First, the history of religions describes two theories of holiness in the study of religion — as a dynamic force and as a ritual resource — which play a central role in biblical literature and establish the paradigm of ordination to Word and Sacrament in Christian tradition. Second, the study of the Moses in the Pentateuch and the formation of the Mosaic office illustrate the ways in which the two views of holiness model ordination to the prophetic word and to the priestly ritual. And, third, canonical criticism provides the lens to explore the ongoing influence of the Mosaic office in the New Testament literature.Less
This book is an initial response to the call of the World Council of Churches for renewed theological reflection on the biblical roots of ordination to strengthen the vocational identity of the ordained and to provide a framework for ecumenical dialogue. It is grounded in the assumption that the vocation of ordination requires an understanding of holiness and how it functions in human religious experience. The goal is to construct a biblical theology of ordination, embedded in broad reflection on the nature of holiness. The study of holiness and ministry interweaves three methodologies. First, the history of religions describes two theories of holiness in the study of religion — as a dynamic force and as a ritual resource — which play a central role in biblical literature and establish the paradigm of ordination to Word and Sacrament in Christian tradition. Second, the study of the Moses in the Pentateuch and the formation of the Mosaic office illustrate the ways in which the two views of holiness model ordination to the prophetic word and to the priestly ritual. And, third, canonical criticism provides the lens to explore the ongoing influence of the Mosaic office in the New Testament literature.
Tania Oldenhage
- Published in print:
- 2002
- Published Online:
- November 2003
- ISBN:
- 9780195150520
- eISBN:
- 9780199834549
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/019515052X.001.0001
- Subject:
- Religion, Biblical Studies
Over the centuries, New Testament texts have often been read in ways that reflect and encourage anti‐Judaism. Since the Holocaust, Christian scholars have increasingly recognized this inheritance. ...
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Over the centuries, New Testament texts have often been read in ways that reflect and encourage anti‐Judaism. Since the Holocaust, Christian scholars have increasingly recognized this inheritance. New Testament scholars have not directly confronted the horror of Nazi crimes, Odlenhage argues, but their work has nonetheless been deeply affected by the events of the Holocaust. By placing twentieth‐century biblical scholarship within its specific historical and cultural contexts, she is able to trace the process by which the Holocaust gradually moved into the collective consciousness of New Testament scholars, both in Germany and in the U.S.. Her focus is on the interpretation of the parables of Jesus by scholars, including Joachim Jeremias, Wolfgang Harnisch, Paul Ricoeur and John Dominic Crossan. In conclusion, Oldenhage offers her own reading of the parable of the wicked husbandmen, demonstrating how the turn from historical criticism to literary theory opens up the text to interpretation in light of the Holocaust. Thereby, she seeks to fashion a biblical hermeneutics that consciously works with memories of the Holocaust. If the parables are to be meaningful in our time, Oldenhage contends, we must take account of the troubling resonance between these ancient Christian stories and the atrocities of Auschwitz.Less
Over the centuries, New Testament texts have often been read in ways that reflect and encourage anti‐Judaism. Since the Holocaust, Christian scholars have increasingly recognized this inheritance. New Testament scholars have not directly confronted the horror of Nazi crimes, Odlenhage argues, but their work has nonetheless been deeply affected by the events of the Holocaust. By placing twentieth‐century biblical scholarship within its specific historical and cultural contexts, she is able to trace the process by which the Holocaust gradually moved into the collective consciousness of New Testament scholars, both in Germany and in the U.S.. Her focus is on the interpretation of the parables of Jesus by scholars, including Joachim Jeremias, Wolfgang Harnisch, Paul Ricoeur and John Dominic Crossan. In conclusion, Oldenhage offers her own reading of the parable of the wicked husbandmen, demonstrating how the turn from historical criticism to literary theory opens up the text to interpretation in light of the Holocaust. Thereby, she seeks to fashion a biblical hermeneutics that consciously works with memories of the Holocaust. If the parables are to be meaningful in our time, Oldenhage contends, we must take account of the troubling resonance between these ancient Christian stories and the atrocities of Auschwitz.
Jonathan Klawans
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- January 2007
- ISBN:
- 9780195162639
- eISBN:
- 9780199785254
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195162639.003.0008
- Subject:
- Religion, Judaism
This chapter reexamines New Testament traditions concerning the Last Supper and Jesus’ overturning the tables in the Jerusalem temple. It argues that the last supper can be understood as a symbolic ...
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This chapter reexamines New Testament traditions concerning the Last Supper and Jesus’ overturning the tables in the Jerusalem temple. It argues that the last supper can be understood as a symbolic act seeking to emulate the temple, affirming its efficacy and meaning. The temple incident is understood as a development of earlier prophetic notions concerning the rejection of stolen sacrifices. In his concern for the poor — and in line with his communitarian social message — Jesus overturned the tables in the temple because he rejected the idea that the poor should be charged at all for their sacrifices. The differing rabbinic perspective on this question is also explored. The chapter concludes with brief survey of anti-temple polemics found in Acts, Hebrews, and Revelation.Less
This chapter reexamines New Testament traditions concerning the Last Supper and Jesus’ overturning the tables in the Jerusalem temple. It argues that the last supper can be understood as a symbolic act seeking to emulate the temple, affirming its efficacy and meaning. The temple incident is understood as a development of earlier prophetic notions concerning the rejection of stolen sacrifices. In his concern for the poor — and in line with his communitarian social message — Jesus overturned the tables in the temple because he rejected the idea that the poor should be charged at all for their sacrifices. The differing rabbinic perspective on this question is also explored. The chapter concludes with brief survey of anti-temple polemics found in Acts, Hebrews, and Revelation.
William Horbury
- Published in print:
- 2009
- Published Online:
- January 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780197264577
- eISBN:
- 9780191734267
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- British Academy
- DOI:
- 10.5871/bacad/9780197264577.003.0013
- Subject:
- History, Historiography
Charles Francis Digby Moule (1908–2007), a Fellow of the British Academy, was probably the most influential British New Testament scholar of his time. The youngest of their three children, he was ...
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Charles Francis Digby Moule (1908–2007), a Fellow of the British Academy, was probably the most influential British New Testament scholar of his time. The youngest of their three children, he was born in the same house as his father, and spent a happy if often solitary childhood in China. Moule spent three years studying theology and training for Holy Orders in the Church of England at Ridley Hall. He soon had to take on leadership of New Testament teaching at the University of Cambridge for the Regius Professor, A. M. Ramsey. Moule was also fascinated, without losing his head as a critic, by the associated question of interaction between liturgy and literature in the early church, posed by such cultic interpreters of the gospels as G. Bertram. He joined the Evangelical Fellowship for Theological Literature, founded in 1942, an impressive body of younger authors that came to include Henry Chadwick, G. W. H. Lampe, S. L. Greenslade, and F. W. Dillistone; the moving spirit was Max Warren.Less
Charles Francis Digby Moule (1908–2007), a Fellow of the British Academy, was probably the most influential British New Testament scholar of his time. The youngest of their three children, he was born in the same house as his father, and spent a happy if often solitary childhood in China. Moule spent three years studying theology and training for Holy Orders in the Church of England at Ridley Hall. He soon had to take on leadership of New Testament teaching at the University of Cambridge for the Regius Professor, A. M. Ramsey. Moule was also fascinated, without losing his head as a critic, by the associated question of interaction between liturgy and literature in the early church, posed by such cultic interpreters of the gospels as G. Bertram. He joined the Evangelical Fellowship for Theological Literature, founded in 1942, an impressive body of younger authors that came to include Henry Chadwick, G. W. H. Lampe, S. L. Greenslade, and F. W. Dillistone; the moving spirit was Max Warren.
Ted A. Campbell
- Published in print:
- 2009
- Published Online:
- January 2009
- ISBN:
- 9780195370638
- eISBN:
- 9780199870738
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195370638.003.002
- Subject:
- Religion, Theology
This chapter discusses the gospel message as it was transmitted in “proto-orthodox” Christian communities in the first through fourth centuries CE “Proto-Orthodox” communities were those early ...
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This chapter discusses the gospel message as it was transmitted in “proto-orthodox” Christian communities in the first through fourth centuries CE “Proto-Orthodox” communities were those early Christian communities whose teachings were consistent with those of later-existing Christian churches. The chapter shows how the basic gospel message was embedded in New Testament texts; how it was transmitted in an oral tradition alongside the New Testament texts and formed the basis of early Christian creeds; and how it helped structure the canon of Christian scripture as it developed in the first through fourth centuries CE.Less
This chapter discusses the gospel message as it was transmitted in “proto-orthodox” Christian communities in the first through fourth centuries CE “Proto-Orthodox” communities were those early Christian communities whose teachings were consistent with those of later-existing Christian churches. The chapter shows how the basic gospel message was embedded in New Testament texts; how it was transmitted in an oral tradition alongside the New Testament texts and formed the basis of early Christian creeds; and how it helped structure the canon of Christian scripture as it developed in the first through fourth centuries CE.
Henry Chadwick
- Published in print:
- 2001
- Published Online:
- November 2003
- ISBN:
- 9780199246953
- eISBN:
- 9780191600463
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0199246955.003.0015
- Subject:
- Religion, Church History
Describes the various versions of New Testament texts and translations circulating in the second century. They can be divided into groups with variants arising from differing local usages, with a ...
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Describes the various versions of New Testament texts and translations circulating in the second century. They can be divided into groups with variants arising from differing local usages, with a slow but steady tendency towards standardization. Greek originals were translated into other languages, especially Syriac and Latin, and the Old Latin translations remained in use until Jerome produced his revised version.Less
Describes the various versions of New Testament texts and translations circulating in the second century. They can be divided into groups with variants arising from differing local usages, with a slow but steady tendency towards standardization. Greek originals were translated into other languages, especially Syriac and Latin, and the Old Latin translations remained in use until Jerome produced his revised version.
John Reumann
- Published in print:
- 1991
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780198262015
- eISBN:
- 9780191682285
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198262015.001.0001
- Subject:
- Religion, Biblical Studies
The blend of variety and unity apparent in the thought of the New Testament has been a subject for theological debate through the ages. Certain themes, teachings, and characterizations are clearly ...
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The blend of variety and unity apparent in the thought of the New Testament has been a subject for theological debate through the ages. Certain themes, teachings, and characterizations are clearly consistent, but others are perplexing in their diversity. This distinction was acknowledged by the New Testament writers themselves. For example, the author of 2 Peter looking back at the letters of ‘our beloved brother Paul’ confesses that they contain ‘some things hard to understand’. This book explores in detail the different aspects of variety and unity in the entire New Testament. The book gives special attention to the sixteen books which fall outside the central Gospels and Pauline epistles and which offer the greatest challenge to the defence of unity. These include such important writings as Revelation, 1 Peter, Hebrews, and James. The discussion shows that, despite contemporary emphasis on the pluralism of the writings, there remains a central unifying focus: faith in Jesus as the Christ. Emphases on social setting, rhetoric, and narrative are shown to enrich traditional historical criticism and to open up the New Testament for readers today.Less
The blend of variety and unity apparent in the thought of the New Testament has been a subject for theological debate through the ages. Certain themes, teachings, and characterizations are clearly consistent, but others are perplexing in their diversity. This distinction was acknowledged by the New Testament writers themselves. For example, the author of 2 Peter looking back at the letters of ‘our beloved brother Paul’ confesses that they contain ‘some things hard to understand’. This book explores in detail the different aspects of variety and unity in the entire New Testament. The book gives special attention to the sixteen books which fall outside the central Gospels and Pauline epistles and which offer the greatest challenge to the defence of unity. These include such important writings as Revelation, 1 Peter, Hebrews, and James. The discussion shows that, despite contemporary emphasis on the pluralism of the writings, there remains a central unifying focus: faith in Jesus as the Christ. Emphases on social setting, rhetoric, and narrative are shown to enrich traditional historical criticism and to open up the New Testament for readers today.
Geoffrey Mark Hahneman
- Published in print:
- 1992
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780198263418
- eISBN:
- 9780191682537
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198263418.003.0001
- Subject:
- Religion, Biblical Studies, Early Christian Studies
In 1964, Albert C. Sundberg, Jr., published a distinguished work on the Old Testament in the early Church. This well-received study refuted the hypothesis of an Alexandrian Jewish canon and radically ...
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In 1964, Albert C. Sundberg, Jr., published a distinguished work on the Old Testament in the early Church. This well-received study refuted the hypothesis of an Alexandrian Jewish canon and radically changed the traditional understanding of the formation of the Christian Old Testament. It was not until 1973 that Sundberg published in full his argument for the redating of the Muratorian Fragment. He questioned the traditional late second-century dating and Westem provenance generally assigned to the Fragment since its publication in 1740. Instead he suggested an early fourth-century date and an Eastern (Syrian/ Palestinian) provenance. The idea of a later date for the Fragment in Sundberg's hypothesis deserves serious study and consideration because the date of the Muratorian Fragment is so crucial to the common understanding of the history of the New Testament.Less
In 1964, Albert C. Sundberg, Jr., published a distinguished work on the Old Testament in the early Church. This well-received study refuted the hypothesis of an Alexandrian Jewish canon and radically changed the traditional understanding of the formation of the Christian Old Testament. It was not until 1973 that Sundberg published in full his argument for the redating of the Muratorian Fragment. He questioned the traditional late second-century dating and Westem provenance generally assigned to the Fragment since its publication in 1740. Instead he suggested an early fourth-century date and an Eastern (Syrian/ Palestinian) provenance. The idea of a later date for the Fragment in Sundberg's hypothesis deserves serious study and consideration because the date of the Muratorian Fragment is so crucial to the common understanding of the history of the New Testament.
Candida R. Moss
- Published in print:
- 2010
- Published Online:
- May 2010
- ISBN:
- 9780199739875
- eISBN:
- 9780199777259
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199739875.003.0001
- Subject:
- Religion, Theology, Early Christian Studies
This chapter examines the theme of suffering in imitation of Jesus in the New Testament and literature of the Jesus movement. It begins with a discussion of the importance of mimesis and imitation in ...
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This chapter examines the theme of suffering in imitation of Jesus in the New Testament and literature of the Jesus movement. It begins with a discussion of the importance of mimesis and imitation in the ancient world and argues that rather than viewing imitation in New Testament literature as “discipleship” and imitation in noncanonical literature as “imitation,” we should treat both in a similar manner. It argues, as a result of this position, that the idea of following Jesus by suffering like him was an important component of discipleship and feature of exhortation in the writings of the Jesus movement (including the Pauline epistles, gospels of Mark and Luke, 1 Peter, Hebrews, Revelation, First Clement, and writings of Ignatius).Less
This chapter examines the theme of suffering in imitation of Jesus in the New Testament and literature of the Jesus movement. It begins with a discussion of the importance of mimesis and imitation in the ancient world and argues that rather than viewing imitation in New Testament literature as “discipleship” and imitation in noncanonical literature as “imitation,” we should treat both in a similar manner. It argues, as a result of this position, that the idea of following Jesus by suffering like him was an important component of discipleship and feature of exhortation in the writings of the Jesus movement (including the Pauline epistles, gospels of Mark and Luke, 1 Peter, Hebrews, Revelation, First Clement, and writings of Ignatius).
Nathan MacDonald
- Published in print:
- 2008
- Published Online:
- January 2009
- ISBN:
- 9780199546527
- eISBN:
- 9780191720215
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199546527.003.0009
- Subject:
- Religion, Biblical Studies
Recent scholarship on food in the New Testament has tended to highlight the relationship of Christian and Jewish meals in the first century AD to Graeco-Roman meals. This too often obscures the ...
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Recent scholarship on food in the New Testament has tended to highlight the relationship of Christian and Jewish meals in the first century AD to Graeco-Roman meals. This too often obscures the relationship that these meals have with the Old Testament Scriptures and Jewish tradition. A brief examination of the Lucan theme of reversal, the juxtaposition of table and court in Mark, and the Pauline presentation of the Lord's Supper in 1 Corinthians show that there are a number of important links with understandings of food and its symbolism found in the Old TestamentLess
Recent scholarship on food in the New Testament has tended to highlight the relationship of Christian and Jewish meals in the first century AD to Graeco-Roman meals. This too often obscures the relationship that these meals have with the Old Testament Scriptures and Jewish tradition. A brief examination of the Lucan theme of reversal, the juxtaposition of table and court in Mark, and the Pauline presentation of the Lord's Supper in 1 Corinthians show that there are a number of important links with understandings of food and its symbolism found in the Old Testament
Christopher Tuckett
- Published in print:
- 2007
- Published Online:
- January 2008
- ISBN:
- 9780199212132
- eISBN:
- 9780191705922
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199212132.003.0006
- Subject:
- Religion, Biblical Studies
Several places in the text of the Gospel of Mary have parallels to traditions and/or sayings which appear in texts which (later) formed part of the ‘New Testament’. Some of these parallels are at the ...
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Several places in the text of the Gospel of Mary have parallels to traditions and/or sayings which appear in texts which (later) formed part of the ‘New Testament’. Some of these parallels are at the level of significant words or phrases, while others are at the level of broader thematic parallels (or in some cases almost ‘anti-parallels’, i.e., showing significant differences from, as well as similarities to, the New Testament). This chapter addresses the question of whether the similarities and parallels in wording indicate any kind of dependence of the Gospel of Mary on New Testament texts, and, so, whether we can be any more precise about the source(s) of the language used in the Gospel of Mary. The parallels between the Gospel of Mary and New Testament texts may be divided into three groups: (1) parallels that appear to be clear ‘echoes’ or ‘allusions’ to New Testament passages; (2) parallels that are less close, and are not so clearly ‘echoes’ of New Testament passages; (3) more general thematic parallels. The nature of the parallels that seem to exist, and the fact that some of the parallels involve at times redactional elements on the side of the (later to become) canonical texts suggests that the Gospel of Mary is primarily a witness to the later, developing tradition generated by these texts, and does not provide independent witness to early Jesus tradition itself.Less
Several places in the text of the Gospel of Mary have parallels to traditions and/or sayings which appear in texts which (later) formed part of the ‘New Testament’. Some of these parallels are at the level of significant words or phrases, while others are at the level of broader thematic parallels (or in some cases almost ‘anti-parallels’, i.e., showing significant differences from, as well as similarities to, the New Testament). This chapter addresses the question of whether the similarities and parallels in wording indicate any kind of dependence of the Gospel of Mary on New Testament texts, and, so, whether we can be any more precise about the source(s) of the language used in the Gospel of Mary. The parallels between the Gospel of Mary and New Testament texts may be divided into three groups: (1) parallels that appear to be clear ‘echoes’ or ‘allusions’ to New Testament passages; (2) parallels that are less close, and are not so clearly ‘echoes’ of New Testament passages; (3) more general thematic parallels. The nature of the parallels that seem to exist, and the fact that some of the parallels involve at times redactional elements on the side of the (later to become) canonical texts suggests that the Gospel of Mary is primarily a witness to the later, developing tradition generated by these texts, and does not provide independent witness to early Jesus tradition itself.
BRUCE M. METZGER
- Published in print:
- 1977
- Published Online:
- September 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780198261704
- eISBN:
- 9780191682209
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198261704.003.0001
- Subject:
- Religion, Biblical Studies, Early Christian Studies
This chapter discusses the introduction of Christianity into Syria and the translation of the New Testament in that region. Of all the early versions of the New Testament, those in Syriac have raised ...
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This chapter discusses the introduction of Christianity into Syria and the translation of the New Testament in that region. Of all the early versions of the New Testament, those in Syriac have raised more problems and provoked more controversies among modern scholars than any of the others. This chapter examines several Syriac versions with the earliest translation of the Gospels. These versions include Tatian's Diatessaron, a harmony of the four gospels prepared about AD 170, the Old Syriac version, the Peshitta Syriac version, and the Philoxenian version. In addition to these several versions, all of which are in the ‘classical’ Syriac dialect of Aramaic used generally throughout Syrian communities, there is also the so-called Palestinian-Syriac version which makes the use of a form of western Aramaic similar to that used by Galilean Jews in the Old Testament Targums.Less
This chapter discusses the introduction of Christianity into Syria and the translation of the New Testament in that region. Of all the early versions of the New Testament, those in Syriac have raised more problems and provoked more controversies among modern scholars than any of the others. This chapter examines several Syriac versions with the earliest translation of the Gospels. These versions include Tatian's Diatessaron, a harmony of the four gospels prepared about AD 170, the Old Syriac version, the Peshitta Syriac version, and the Philoxenian version. In addition to these several versions, all of which are in the ‘classical’ Syriac dialect of Aramaic used generally throughout Syrian communities, there is also the so-called Palestinian-Syriac version which makes the use of a form of western Aramaic similar to that used by Galilean Jews in the Old Testament Targums.
BRUCE M. METZGER
- Published in print:
- 1977
- Published Online:
- September 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780198261704
- eISBN:
- 9780191682209
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198261704.003.0007
- Subject:
- Religion, Biblical Studies, Early Christian Studies
This chapter discusses the history of the Latin versions of the New Testament. The exact date of the first Latin version of the Bible or any part of the Bible is uncertain. Although it might have ...
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This chapter discusses the history of the Latin versions of the New Testament. The exact date of the first Latin version of the Bible or any part of the Bible is uncertain. Although it might have been supposed that the Latin Bible had its origin at Rome, the matter is actually very complicated and far from certain. To many scholars, it appears probable that no later than the beginning of the 3rd century, Christians in Rome are likely to have produced a Latin version of the New Testament. This chapter also provides a list of the manuscripts of the Old Latin versions and examines their linguistic and textual characteristics.Less
This chapter discusses the history of the Latin versions of the New Testament. The exact date of the first Latin version of the Bible or any part of the Bible is uncertain. Although it might have been supposed that the Latin Bible had its origin at Rome, the matter is actually very complicated and far from certain. To many scholars, it appears probable that no later than the beginning of the 3rd century, Christians in Rome are likely to have produced a Latin version of the New Testament. This chapter also provides a list of the manuscripts of the Old Latin versions and examines their linguistic and textual characteristics.
C. Stephen Evans
- Published in print:
- 1996
- Published Online:
- November 2003
- ISBN:
- 9780198263975
- eISBN:
- 9780191600579
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/019826397X.003.0014
- Subject:
- Religion, Theology
This concluding chapter continues the ‘case study’ of ‘James’, a young man raised in a non-Christian home who is converted to Christianity but subsequently exposed to sceptical claims about the ...
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This concluding chapter continues the ‘case study’ of ‘James’, a young man raised in a non-Christian home who is converted to Christianity but subsequently exposed to sceptical claims about the incarnational narrative of the New Testament. A number of possible responses that James could make to the sceptical claims are considered, looking at the case in which James himself is able to carry out a deeper investigation of the problems by devoting some serious study to contemporary historical scholarship concerning the story of Jesus. Such an examination can be undertaken at many different levels, and at some levels, a great amount of preliminary knowledge is required in order to be competent to form critical judgements. The situation is investigated by imagining various levels of study on the part of James. These are (in order of increasing level): a review of the conclusions of important scholars; an examination of the criteria of authenticity employed by many New Testament scholars, and the uncertainty that may emerge from this; other, deeper reasons for doubts about critical historical scholarship (philosophical and literary assumptions); the problem of biblical historical critics as an interpretative (rather than an objective) community; and apologetics (old and new).Less
This concluding chapter continues the ‘case study’ of ‘James’, a young man raised in a non-Christian home who is converted to Christianity but subsequently exposed to sceptical claims about the incarnational narrative of the New Testament. A number of possible responses that James could make to the sceptical claims are considered, looking at the case in which James himself is able to carry out a deeper investigation of the problems by devoting some serious study to contemporary historical scholarship concerning the story of Jesus. Such an examination can be undertaken at many different levels, and at some levels, a great amount of preliminary knowledge is required in order to be competent to form critical judgements. The situation is investigated by imagining various levels of study on the part of James. These are (in order of increasing level): a review of the conclusions of important scholars; an examination of the criteria of authenticity employed by many New Testament scholars, and the uncertainty that may emerge from this; other, deeper reasons for doubts about critical historical scholarship (philosophical and literary assumptions); the problem of biblical historical critics as an interpretative (rather than an objective) community; and apologetics (old and new).
